Abundant Leadership: Lessons from Anna Morgan, Beth Moore, Rick Warren, and Russell Moore
We may not all be called to lead in the same way or at the same level, but I believe many women are meant to have a greater voice and influence than they are presently given, especially in ministry.
Author Anna Morgan is ordained through the Assemblies of God, a denomination that invites women to serve in leadership roles. As religious affiliation declines in the West, Morgan contends that offering women a fair chance in leadership positions can help fill some of the gap. In her book, Growing Women in Ministry, one sentence frames the root of her thesis: “For women to gain power, men do not need to lose it.” [1] She goes on to express that leadership is not a limited commodity to be hoarded or defended. Instead, it is a shared calling for both men and women, and when the church finally embraces that as truth, it will become a place of dignity, mutual benefit, and flourishing.[2]
Reading Morgan’s words, I couldn’t help but think of the women who have lived this tension firsthand, showing integrity in answering God’s call, but found the doors of their denominational homes closed on them. Beth Moore is one of them. Moore, an author and podcaster, is highly respected for her work in women’s ministry. She founded Living Proof Ministries through the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). This institution, which she believes saved her life, suddenly turned its back on her in 2021 after voicing remarks about Donald Trump. “Wake up, sleepers, to what women have dealt with all along in environments of gross entitlement and power,”[3] she said.
Leadership Systems That Nurture or Neglect
Anna Morgan speaks about “Systems that normalize affirmation,”[4] which are the informal and interpersonal dynamics that create lasting change. She raises a point that reminds me of another situation that happened around the same time that Beth Moore was ousted from the SBC. For over a year, the founding pastor of Saddleback Church, Rick Warren, had been discussing his forthcoming retirement. He and his team were diligent in finding the right successors, which ultimately led to the selection of Andy and Stacie Wood, a gifted couple who had co-pastored together for many years. Because Saddleback had affirmed women in ministry for over 40 years, this was not a surprise. Congregants received the news of the selection with excitement; however, the SBC responded by disfellowshipping Saddleback because they had given Stacie the title of “teaching pastor.” Warren appealed but was denied. The denomination, which was simultaneously under legal and reputational scrutiny for covering up years of sexual abuse by its leaders, seemed to be taking a hard line against women holding any form of leadership power. It brought to mind a phrase I have heard at different times in my life, “Blame the women for the choices made by men.” Morgan would call this a failure of imaginative leadership or the inability to envision a model of egalitarian ministry without a fear of losing authority. Stacie Woods being given the title of teaching pastor was not a threat to Biblical scripture; it was more likely a threat to the hierarchy of the SBC, which I believe is a more profound crisis.
In our most recent reading, Losing Our Religion by Russell Moore, author and editor of Christianity Today, reached a similar breaking point. He was raised in the Southern Baptist Convention and had worked his way up to leading the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. He was a leading voice pressuring the SBC to address the numerous reports of sexual abuse and racial injustice with integrity. But even he was dismissed, which seemed unfathomable at the time. Sadly, the cancel culture has now waned. People have chosen sides, and we are now in a culture of hatred and division. Moore shared in his book that “The fear of losing cultural power had eclipsed moral clarity.”[5]
Growing Women in Ministry is an insightful book. It puts words to often-unseen norms that have perpetuated hierarchies of power in churches, societies, the business world, and our homes. It has also helped me recognize that women are not the exclusive target of those who wish to remain in control; men with integrity are also targeted. In fact, integrity with interdependence is how Morgan describes leadership: a willingness to tell the truth, even if it comes at a cost. Of course, Jesus paid a very high price for speaking truth to power and warned his followers that they would face the same consequences.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12[6]
The Way Forward with Shared Stewardship
While I have spoken of unfortunate examples within the SBC, I recognize there are faithful and honest congregants who are actively living their lives within and outside of the church. Other denominations demonstrate their belief that empowering women does not diminish men, but rather it strengthens and multiplies the ministry as a whole – the whole body of Christ.
Still, when I reflect on the relatively recent public journeys of Beth Moore, Rick Warren, and Russell Moore, there is a common theme. In each case, the person chose faithfulness and honesty over fear. They knew that Christ’s calling could not be held captive by any denominational boundaries. Leadership within the church does not have to be a zero-sum game. Instead, it should be a shared stewardship of God’s love and abundance.
Sometimes I wonder how the church might function today if we measured leadership by faithfulness and humility rather than by gender, title, social class, or other means of hierarchy and power. What would the systems look like if, by design, they released power rather than hoarded it? I appreciate Morgan’s thoughts on the need to redesign the structures that continue to silence women. Rather than having a scarcity mindset, those in current leadership positions within the church would celebrate that God’s gifts can produce much fruit. When power is no longer guarded but instead given away, we can all grow together with richer, fuller lives of faith and hope.
[1] Morgan, Anna R. Growing Women in Ministry: Seven Aspects of Leadership Development. 1st ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2024.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Smietana, Bob. “Bible Teacher Beth Moore, Splitting with Lifeway, Says, ‘I Am No Longer a Southern Baptist.’” RNS, March 9, 2021. Accessed November 1, 2025. https://religionnews.com/2021/03/09/bible-teacher-beth-moore-ends-partnership-with-lifeway-i-am-no-longer-a-southern-baptist/.
[4] Morgan, Anna R. Growing Women in Ministry: Seven Aspects of Leadership Development. 1st ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2024.
[5] Moore, Russell. Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America. New York: Sentinel, 2023.
[6] “Bible Gateway Passage: Matthew 5:11-12 – New International Version.” Bible Gateway. Accessed November 1, 2025. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205%3A11-12&version=NIV.
About the Author
Jennifer Eckert
Operations and fundraising director, people connector, believer in second chances, fights poverty, supports justice reform, lives a life integrated with Matthew 25.8 responses to “Abundant Leadership: Lessons from Anna Morgan, Beth Moore, Rick Warren, and Russell Moore”
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Jennifer,
Thanks for your comments. Wondering if you listened to the Why I’m still a Christian series from the Holy Post. They interviewed Beth Moore and Russell moore. Personally I’ve changed my position as I have matured in my faith. I have sat under the leadership of female pastors and have grown to love and appreciate their voices.
Do you have a favorite female pastor that you have grown to respect and love to listen to?
https://www.holypost.com/articles/categories/why-i-m-still-a-christian-series
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for reading and commenting. I have listened to a Holy Post podcast before, but not the one you mentioned. Thank you for including the link; I always appreciate learning about new resources! This looks like a great series.
You asked about a favorite female pastor. Honestly, most of the podcasts and YouTube videos I watch feature male pastors, but Joyce Meyer is probably my go-to female voice. I appreciate her straightforward approach that doesn’t mince words.
Thank you Jennifer!!! I love this post. I, too, am aware of the same examples you shared (Warren, Beth Moore, etc.).
I especially love this: “Leadership within the church does not have to be a zero-sum game. Instead, it should be a shared stewardship of God’s love and abundance. Sometimes I wonder how the church might function today if we measured leadership by faithfulness and humility rather than by gender, title, social class, or other means of hierarchy and power. What would the systems look like if, by design, they released power rather than hoarded it?”
Exactly! Oh, that we would all take on an abundance mentality, instead of a lack mentality…
I struggle with this question, so I’m curious about your response: I recognize that those with a complementarian view believe they are biblically “correct” just as those with an egalitarian view believe they are biblically “correct.” How do we reconcile when both views are so heart-felt?
Hi friend,
Thank you for the smile and the million-dollar question.
I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and here’s what I keep coming back to: as flawed humans with limited perspective and centuries of cultural narratives shaping us, it’s no surprise that we interpret Scripture differently. In truth, we’re all likely wrong about some part of it.
These debates, whether friendly or not, have been happening for thousands of years. What is new, though, is how we respond to one another. Too often today, we treat those with differing experiences or interpretations as opponents, or worse, as enemies. The loudest voices tend to carry the bullhorn, shaping the views of others who may not pause to reflect or discern for themselves.
Differences will always exist until Jesus returns to set things right. In the meantime, our calling is to stay curious, keep listening, and extend grace, hoping to receive the same in return.
On a totally unrelated note, because the book and blogs focus on a gender-related issue, I just realized it would likely fall into the (now-banned) category of DEI.
Thank you Jennifer! I appreciated your candor in relating the tension and the vulnerability expressed in your personal experience. If you could restructure a few things what would be at the top of your list?
Daren,
Honestly, if I could restructure things, I would bring back humanities and civics education (and maybe cursive handwriting for my son). That isn’t exactly what you were asking, but I don’t know that people have the power to fully resolve gender disparities or any other kind of disparity. Only Jesus can!
People have been at odds with one another since the beginning of time. However, the humanities offer a unique lens through which to revisit history from a different perspective. One that lends itself to compassion and empathy.
For example, during my associate degree studies, I took a humanities course that covered the tragic circumstances of women who endured health issues related to illness or pregnancy that resulted in society labeling them as witches. Many lost their lives at the hands of authorities during the Salem witch trials, part of history that is rarely, if ever, covered in traditional history or civics courses.
Unfortunately, like many helpful topics, gender studies, humanities, and more are presently seen by society as woke. Some may even say that we just read a woke book and wrote woke blogs. Personally, I enjoyed it very much.
Hi Jennifer, Thank you for your post, I read it with interest. May I ask you your own question? “What would the systems look like if, by design, they released power rather than hoarded it?” Paint me a picture 🙂
Hi Julie,
Thanks for your question. Rather than centralizing power at the top, this system would look like distributed or decentralized leadership, where the goal would be to intentionally train and empower others to lead through an equal voice within the overall organization.
If memory serves me correctly, I believe Tim Keller led a church-planting model that trained leaders to spin off new congregations rather than creating a mega-church. Of course, Life Church now has a gazillion campuses.
So, perhaps those systems already exist, whether perfect or imperfect, but the positions of power are not as diverse as they could be.